Inside the Cabazon Dinosaurs

As far as tourist traps are concerned, the giant dinosaurs in Cabazon, California kind of became symbols of our 2009 and 2010 road trips through the Coachella valley. Providing an ample mix of shock and awe, the road side landmarks are cool for their novelty but are still so overtly campy, given the creationist views in the gift shop and exhibits, that you can't help but laugh about where you are.  I can't talk about the spot without mentioning the Wizard or Pee Wee's Big Adventure either.

The gift shop is inside the Apatosaurus which is free to enter, but you have to pay to go inside the T-Rex.  A concrete stairway in the tail leads up to a metal spiral staircase to go into the head.  From there you can look through his teeth and enjoy the breeze.  It's generally not that busy of a place, so we just chilled in the T-Rex for a bit before heading west to Palm Springs.  

I should also mention that we ate at the Wheel Inn before all of this - I think it helps to complete the Cabazon dinosaur experience. Click here to see why exactly.